Ronnie O'Sullivan loses his head and barges opponent Ali Carter before crashing out of World Championship: 'I don't get angry unless there's justification... I'm a good guy'

  • Title favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan appeared to barge Ali Carter in the 19th frame
  • Incident occurred with O'Sullivan 10-8 behind in second-round grudge match
  • Carter, who won 13-9, spiced things up in the build up to the match in Sheffield 
  • The pair came to blows at the table and referee Paul Collier was forced to step in

Riled Ronnie O'Sullivan lost his head and barged opponent Ali Carter before crashing out of the Betfred World Championship.

In a moment of madness title favourite O'Sullivan appeared to barge Carter in the 19th frame of his 13-9 defeat at the Crucible.

The unprecedented incident occurred with O'Sullivan 10-8 behind in the pair's second-round grudge match in Sheffield.

Ronnie O'Sullivan lost his head and barged opponent Ali Carter before losing 13-9 on Saturday

Ronnie O'Sullivan lost his head and barged opponent Ali Carter before losing 13-9 on Saturday

O'Sullivan appeared to barge Carter in 19th frame before crashing out of World Championship

O'Sullivan appeared to barge Carter in 19th frame before crashing out of World Championship

The incident occurred with O'Sullivan 10-8 behind in second-round grudge match in Sheffield

The incident occurred with O'Sullivan 10-8 behind in second-round grudge match in Sheffield

Carter spiced things up in the build up to the match when he criticised World Snooker, the sport's governing body, for running what he deemed the 'Ronnie O'Sullivan show'.


The Captain had lost two world titles to his arch rival, and was angered when he couldn't even get in his dressing room for his first-round match with O'Sullivan having overstayed his welcome.

And things came to a head out in the iconic theatre when the pair came to blows at the table and referee Paul Collier was forced to step in.

Five-time winner O'Sullivan said: 'Sometimes you have to stand your ground, you get barged by someone once, I'm not a limbo dancer.

'I don't get angry unless there's justification there. I'm a good guy.

'But, I don't think I have anything to apologise for. Sometimes you just touch each other. Formula One has it all the time, they have contact in cars and we have contact in humans.'

Official Collier did not issue either player a warning, which could've resulted in disciplinary action.

Paul Collier did not issue either player a warning, which could've resulted in disciplinary action

Paul Collier did not issue either player a warning, which could've resulted in disciplinary action

Carter spiced things up in build up to match vs O'Sullivan when he criticised World Snooker

Carter spiced things up in build up to match vs O'Sullivan when he criticised World Snooker

But it's not the first time O'Sullivan has lost his composure in a match as he quit when 4-1 down

But it's not the first time O'Sullivan has lost his composure in a match as he quit when 4-1 down

RONNIE O'SULLIVAN'S PREVIOUS INCIDENTS

UK Championship (2006): Quit match when 4-1 down against Stephen Hendry.

China Open (2008): Used crude language in press conference following defeat by Marco Fu.

World Championship (2013): Given warning by referee for inappropriate gesture.

Masters (2017): Received disciplinary letter for criticising referee Terry Camilleri and swearing at cameraman.

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But it's not the first time O'Sullivan has lost his composure during a match.

He famously quit a match when 4-1 down against Stephen Hendry at the 2006 UK Championship in York.

The Captain has overcome cancer and constantly battled Crohn's disease in a testing career.

And he stressed he wouldn't be bullied by O'Sullivan on snooker's grandest stage.

'He barged me,' rapped Carter, after his first ranking win over the Rocket in 14 attempts.

'But I'm not going to be bullied by anyone.

'I've been through a lot in my life and a lot harder things than a shoulder barge.

'If I fell and rolled on the floor that's not me and it can't be me, that's impossible.

'If I barged him earlier then it's tit for tat. It didn't go too far though as he didn't head-butt me.'

Carter resumed with a 9-7 lead and remained focused to keep O'Sullivan at bay and end the Rocket's charge for a sixth world crown. 

After win, Carter stressed he wouldn't be bullied by O'Sullivan on snooker's grandest stage

After win, Carter stressed he wouldn't be bullied by O'Sullivan on snooker's grandest stage

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